The family of the nurse who killed herself after receiving a hoax call from hosts from an Australian radio station pretending to be the Queen, described their tragic loss yesterday. Jacintha Saldanha, a 46-year-old mother of two, was found dead on Friday morning at the London hospital where the Duchess of Cambridge had been (1)_______________ for acute morning-sickness.

Three days before her death, Mrs Saldanha was manning the hospital switchboard when she took a call from two radio presenters – Mel Greig and Michael Christian – impersonating the Queen and Prince Charles. Saldanha (2)_______________ the call to the Duchess’s ward and (3)_______________ information was given out by a second nurse and then broadcast in Australia. Although she wasn’t blamed in any way for what happened, friends said Mrs Saldanha ‘took it very badly’.

Her husband, Ben Barboza, 49, an NHS accountant, said: ‘I am (4)_______________ with the tragic loss of my beloved wife in tragic circumstances.’ In a poignant message posted on Facebook, the couple’s 14-year-old daughter wrote: ‘I miss you. I loveeee you.’ Jacintha was described as popular, quiet and ‘profoundly caring’ and the hospital said it supported her, stressing that she did not face any (5)_______________ action.

The hospital chairman, wrote to 2Day FM, condemning the ‘humiliation of two dedicated and caring nurses’. He called the decision to broadcast the prank ‘truly (6)_______________’. The station and its DJs have attracted frequent criticism in recent years following a series of high-profile controversies.

Caught in an international (7)_______________, Greig and Christian are in hiding, where they are said to be receiving medical assistance amid growing fears for their ‘physical and emotional wellbeing’. While it is not thought the presenters broke any laws, they are expected to be interviewed by police.

Yesterday the dead nurse’s family were being (8)_______________ by relatives and friends at their home in Bristol. Mrs Saldanha, from India, got married in 1993 and moved to Bristol nine years ago. Whilst working she lived in nurse’s quarters behind the hospital, returning to the family home on her days off.

Exercise 1: What words could you use to fill in the gaps?

Who is to blame for the tragedy?

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Exercise 2: Use these words to fill in the gaps

transferred disciplinary comforted treated

backlash devastated confidential appalling

Exercise 3: Find a word that means...

1. sth that causes extreme sorrow or distress (paragraph 1)

________________________________2. A joke involving deception (paragraph 1)

________________________________

3. to transmit a program by radio or television (paragraph 2) ________________________________

4. having a strong sense of sadness and regret (paragraph 3) ________________________________

5. to express complete disapproval of sth (paragraph 4)

________________________________6. to be comfortable, healthy or happy (paragraph 5)

________________________________

Exercise 4: What should the hospital chairman have written to the radio station?

________________________________________________________________________

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________________________________________________________________________

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Who is to blame for the tragedy?

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Exercise 5: DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

a) What were your initial reactions when you first heard this story?b) What should the radio hosts and/or radio producers do/say now?c) Should Jacintha’s family be paid compensation? Who should pay & how much?d) What should the hospital do now and in the future to prevent a similar tragedy?e) Do you have any sympathy for the radio presenters?f) Should William and Kate do/say something now?g) Who is really to blame for this tragedy in your opinion?h) What would you have said/done if you had answered the call on reception? Exercise 6: Considering 5h).... One partner = radio host making the hoax call pretending to be The Queen or Prince Charles. Other partner = hospital receptionist. Act out the call. With the benefit of hindsight & with a background check this should be completely different than what actually happened.

ANSWERS

Exercise 2: 1. treated2. transferred3. confidential4. devastated5. disciplinary 6. appalling7. backlash8. comforted

Exercise 3: 1. tragic2. hoax3. broadcast4. poignant5. condemning6. wellbeing

Who is to blame for the tragedy?

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